Protzel’s Deli - A Clayton Tradition In the beginning... On October 1,
1954, Bob and Evelyn Protzel opened their delicatessen with dreams of
great success and prayers that they would feed their young family. They
were making ends meet – at 16 hours a day 7 days a week – they should
have, but far from an outrageous success. Bob and Evelyn did all that
they could to put forth the best food at a fair price. The prepared
their own salads fresh every day, made gefilte fish, roasted briskets,
cooked corned beef and tongue, they even made their own pickles and
ground fresh horseradish. It was not easy, but it was theirs. Word
spread about the new deli with the cute young couple (Bob was 29 and his
dear Evelyn was 25).

People who visited the store quickly fell in love
with them, and they returned often for their good, fresh home made
delicatessen specialties. About two years after the store opened, a
retired deli man that had frequented the store took Bob aside and
offered to share a special secret on how to prepare the best corned beef
he would ever taste. The condition was that he must agree to pass the
secret to a young, kind and deserving deli man when he retired, but at
no time would he otherwise sell it or give it away. Bob agreed, and so
with nothing more than a handshake, the secret was passed to Bob.
Now, along side Evelyn’s proudly displayed chopped liver, roasted briskets and other specialties
was what was to become Bob’s trademark–“THE FINEST CORNED BEEF ANYWHERE”.
Present Day Protzel's, much like the past...
Over the years the deli has become something of a
landmark (over 55 years
in the same location will do that) – children who once shopped for
penny candy
now bring their children and grandchildren as a rite of passage.
Couples that met at the deli and have been married for years return for
their favorite treats and
that “sentimental flavor”.
People that have moved out of town return to find
things somewhat different, yet comfortably and nostalgically the same.
No one wants to grind horseradish anymore, penny candy is but a memory,
and most sadly, so are Bob and Evelyn. Over the years, the store has added
seating so friends can eat in. The once crammed shelves now offer a wonderful
selection of mustards and specialty items, and the bakery case boasts fresh
breads, bagels and rolls, homemade cookies and komish bread (mandel bread,
mandel brot, komish broit, etc.).
The deli cases burst with a variety of salads
(including Evelyn’s wonderful potato salad), pickles and pickled tomatoes,
delicious home made knishes and kugels, chopped chicken livers, as well as the
freshly prepared deli meats. You can even get a hot bowl of Joanie’s wonderful
chicken soup with matzo balls, homemade kishke (if you don’t know, don’t ask)
or a bagel with freshly hand sliced nova, cream cheese, tomato, onion & capers.
Unchanged is the personal, warm and friendly service, our first salami
(framed and hung above the meat slicers), fresh homemade delicacies prepared
daily, and as always, THE FINEST CORNED BEEF ANYWHERE.
Thank you for making us a tradition.-The Family of Bob and Evelyn Protzel